- How does the concept of “free” information affect businesses that used to charge for it?
- Has it become a cost of doing business?
- Are we agile enough to compete in the digital marketplace?
I encourage you to watch this short scene on YouTube.com before reading this; it’s a scene from The Rookie, the 2002 movie based on the true story of Jim Morris and his brief Major League Baseball career. The clip is a good representation of how many businesses feel—not knowing if they can compete in this fast-paced, information-now-and-often-free marketplace. But if you have talent and bring something valuable to the game, like a 96-mph pitch, believing in yourself can be enough.
To deny that the online marketplace and new business arena within the World Wide Web is intimidating would be delusional. Like the rookie, when we step up to pitch we must remember that our old measurement systems may not be calibrated to properly measure and assess our extraordinary abilities.
In the “Free” Information series of articles, I will uncover real concerns and struggles within many industries, as seen through the digitization of: newspapers, encyclopedias, books and references, music and videos, most of which are now provided free or by a “per click” fee basis. Yet as we all know, while something may be offered for free, nothing comes without costs.
Join me for the next month in my exploration of the real value and costs of free information.
Rob Corrao
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